Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-14
honor of carrying OF the Brandon

irS- Desmond, arrayed as Madame de
Pompadour, IN rose colored velvet and
diamonds, and Mrs. Somers as Marie
Antoinette, in pale blue satin and
pearles, arrived almost simultaneously
at Lady Mabel's. Little FitZ. to whom
both ladies had, OF course, conlided the
secret OF her incognitio, had got him
self up very magnificently as Louis
Nv, and this Mrs Desmond consid-
cred as almost tantam0unt to 4 decla.
ration.
The ball was a most brilliant affair:
the weather was everything it should
be. warm, still and moonleSs; the iliu-
limitations were gorgeous, the music
good, the dresses admirable, and the
wine superlative. Lady Mabel's guests
took their pleasure with less of insular
sadness and more of continental liyeli-
ness than usual. Whether it was the
novelty and daring of the thing, or the
tact of the hostess, or the unlinIted
opportunities for Irritation, or the spice
of intrigue and mystIdcation intro
duced into the affair by the wearing of
masks. 1t Is certain that the ball was
a complete success from beginning to
end. Minna Desmond, however, was
far from happy, for throughout the
evening little FitZ devoted himself
almost exclusively to her rival. The
/ blue dress of Marie Antoinette was
I always TO be seen In juXtapOsltion with
| the brilliant costume CT Louis Nv.
~ suppose he thinks as Clementina
| is masked, people won't talk" thought
| the disconnected widow, rs she watched
the pair.
CarnfOrth, who had somehow discOy-
| cred that Madame de POmpadOur was
| no other than his tickle MInnA, came
/ up TO her and began to talk, At first
/ his attempts at conversation were
/ coldly received, but Jack was not easily
/ snubbed, and at length she seemed TO
relent and gradually glided into q
/ friendly chat.
CarnfOrth was delighted; he begged
for a waltz. and Minna Gid not refuse
the request. When the dance was
| ended, he led lis partner into one of
the pleasant hooks in the garden, hop
ing that the widows mood would not
change before he could find courage to
propose. But the lady's thoughts We're
/ still running on Louis; she was deter
mined not to throw up the cards yet.
The first thing to be done was to get
rid OF Carnforth, so he was dispatched
to fetch an ice, much TO his disgust.
Just rs she was about TO leave the arboT
in search of the recalcIt.ant FItz, she
I was startled by a rustic in the bushes
near, and voice-Clementina'S voice
I whispering her name. At the same
time the bushes parted, showing the
blue dress OF the Queen.
''Clementinan' cried the astOnished
lady; you here?"
Hush, dear. have been trying to
speak to you all the evening""
"IndeedP'' retOrted the other coldly;
~ thought you were better occupied. -
"Oh, Minna, don't be unkIud. l
thought I could depend on yOar friend
ship"
My friendship. Much you care for
that, infatuated as you are by that 1t
tie she paused, unable 10 find 4
word strong enough To express her
feelings.
"M.nna, dearest, you are surely not
Jealous OF meIn
"Jealousl no, indeed. I don't ad-
mire your pocket AdOnis, your duo
decimO LOUIS Nv" said Minna with
whitening scOrn.
Then We won't quarrel over him,
but unite our forces against the com
mon fOe," retoTted the OtLer with
spirit.
The common foe? what do you
mean?"
Just what I say. AIinna, there Is
treachsry somewhere. Some one is
playing me, playing US, cruel trick
tonight"
DO speak out plainly, DEAR said
the other, with a little laugh. Il am
toe stupid to guess riddles"
, Come with me, then, and l viii
. show you something more pulling
, than any riddle" And ClemeuJlna
drew her friends hand through heI
arm and led her rapidly toward the
most secluded part of the garden 81
saw them go in this direction" she
went on excItedly. "LoOk, Minna
don't YOU see blue dress over theTe:'
/ Yes, but there are ever so MANI
blue dresses here tonight"
Not like that one," whispered
: Clementina in her ear, lit IS u fac
, simile OF mine"
Then it is not you 0Ir. Brandon ha
= been dancing with all the eEeningT'
, replied the other, breathlessly, a Lgh
? suddenly breaking in on her.
t mo. He has been dancing with IN.
double"
: My poor Clementina' but yo'
I Determined to find out who ha
+ played me this shameful trick" sh
( interrupted fieTcely. Now silence, o
I they will hear US. Here they come
T they are going to sit on that seat"
Drawing the astonished Minna afte
y her. Mrs. Somers slipped behind
n large bush OF serInga, which effectuall
h screened them from view. Littl
Fitz and his fair companion sauntere
a slowly down the path, and as ClemeI
b tina had predicted, seated themselve
: ON a garden bench close by There wa
q an air or tender empressment abOu
r the former which at once struck til
eager watchers.
d And you will give me that rose
dear Mrs. Somers," he was sayin
: earnestly. as he bent over the sma
q jewelled hand of the unknown
!. Clemen ina nearly cried aloud Oh
, ! This is drealful-the AdOGis WAS pos
\ lively max .ng love TO her double befor
Il her very eyes. The fair incognitl
II laughed musically as she detached tn
II coveted flower from her dress and CAV
l. il to the delighted Fitz.
n s'Oh, yes, Mr.. Brandon Why shoul
Ie refuse you such trlheT L only as
IS for one thing in return"
Il Mrs. Somers' heart stood still. Wa
N she dreaming? The unknown not on
a wore her dress. but spoke in her voic
h Il can refuse you nothing" pre-
n tested FitZ, ardently.
.h Then tell me why you let that sill
IS Mrs. Desmond monopoliZe you as 81
.n does? Come, confide in me; are you
Id love with her7"
M .'In love with her." he rejoined, ha
/ tily. ''Oh, no; surely, dearest ClemeI
J. tina, you should know better thu
N | thatr'
n. Mrs. Desmond cIenched her hand
ID "Oh! the little hypocrite," she breathe,
'sThen you" there the unknow
id paused and played coquettlshly vii
u her FAM shave some feeling Of
or friendship for-meP'' she finished sol
ly ly.